BETHEL, MN REALTOR · LOCAL GUIDE
LIVING IN BETHEL
Bethel is one of the smallest cities in Anoka County, home to about 480 people on roughly one square mile. Quakers settled the area in 1856, and the name — meaning “House of God” — was chosen by settler Moses Twitchell, who came from Bethel, Maine. Bethel got its post office in 1865, incorporated as a village in 1902 and became a city on January 1, 1974.
Life here is small-town. City Hall keeps weekday hours and the city council meets the first and third Thursday of each month, with remote participation available, the city runs a business incentive program aimed at bringing new businesses to its Main Street, and Bethel City Park hosts community gatherings like National Night to Unite on the first Tuesday in August.
The biggest event of the year is Bethel Days, held the third weekend in August. It kicks off with a Friday movie in the park, followed by a Saturday parade, a car and bike show, live music and family activities. The city also hosts clean-up days twice a year, on the fourth Saturday of April and September, when residents can drop off recyclables for free — a small-town service that neighbors look forward to.
County Road 24 (237th Avenue) is the main route through town, and Highway 65 runs just to the east, connecting south toward Ham Lake, Blaine and the rest of the Twin Cities. St. Francis wraps around Bethel on three sides, so the grocery stores, restaurants, schools and other services there are only a few minutes away, and East Bethel’s parks and lakes are just across the highway. Minneapolis is roughly 35 to 40 miles south. The Anoka–Isanti county line is just to the north.
BETHEL AT A GLANCE
Population: 476
Size: 1.0 sq mi
Incorporated: 1902 (village)
Schools: St. Francis ISD 15
Parks: Bethel City Park
Commute: Hwy 65 · CR 24
County: Anoka
Summer festival: Bethel Days (August)
Drive to MSP Airport: about 60 minutes (45 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown Minneapolis: about 50 minutes (34 miles), off-peak
Drive to Downtown St. Paul: about 50 minutes (38 miles), off-peak
BETHEL SCHOOLS
Bethel is served by St. Francis Area Schools (ISD 15), a district covering about 165 square miles of northern Anoka County and southern Isanti County. The district’s schools include St. Francis Elementary, Cedar Creek Community School and East Bethel Community School for grades K–5, St. Francis Middle School for grades 6–8, and St. Francis High School on Bridge Street in St. Francis for grades 9–12.
I’ll confirm the elementary assignment for any home you’re considering before you make an offer.
What the percentages mean: the percentage beside each school below is the share of Bethel’s children of that school’s age who live in its attendance area — ages 5–10 for elementary, 11–13 for middle and 14–17 for high school (about 32, 10 and 29 children in the 2020 Census). District percentages use all children ages 5–17. It shows where the city’s kids are assigned; it is not a test score or a rating. Students per grade is each school’s 2025–26 enrollment divided by the number of grades it serves.
School districts serving Bethel: St. Francis (ISD 15) — all of the city’s school-age children.
HOW BETHEL’S SCHOOL DISTRICTS COMPARE STATEWIDE
St. Francis (ISD 15): reading 49% and math 44% proficient on the 2025–26 state tests — test-score rank #142 of 326 Minnesota districts; 4-year graduation rate 89% (class of 2025), #211 of 317
Proficient = share of tested students who met or exceeded Minnesota’s grade-level standards (MCA, MTAS and Alternate MCA, all tested grades). Test-score rank = position among Minnesota school districts (charter schools not included) by the average of reading and math proficiency; school ranks compare each school with all Minnesota public schools at the same level. Ranks are calculated by Minnesota Chuck from Minnesota Department of Education data and are not an official state rating.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SERVING BETHEL
East Bethel Elementary: St. Francis (ISD 15) — all of Bethel’s children that age; grades K–5, about 78 students per grade; reading 57%, math 55% proficient (2025–26), #309 of 893 Minnesota elementary schools
MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVING BETHEL
St. Francis Middle School: St. Francis (ISD 15) — all of Bethel’s children that age; grades 6–8, about 293 students per grade; reading 50%, math 35% proficient (2025–26), #136 of 264 Minnesota middle schools
HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING BETHEL
St. Francis High School: St. Francis (ISD 15) — all of Bethel’s children that age; grades 9–12, about 288 students per grade; reading 32%, math 44% proficient (2025–26), #202 of 435 Minnesota high schools; 4-year graduation 96%
Sources: Minnesota Department of Education, School Attendance Areas, SY2025-26; Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 assessment results and graduation rates (Minnesota Report Card); U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (children by age, by census block); Minnesota Department of Education 2025–26 enrollment. Boundaries can change, so confirm the assigned school with the district for a specific address.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What school district is Bethel, MN in?
Bethel is served by St. Francis Area Schools (ISD 15). The district has three elementary schools, St. Francis Middle School and St. Francis High School, located in neighboring St. Francis. ISD 15 also serves St. Francis, East Bethel and Oak Grove, so families here share schools with those communities.
What county is Bethel, MN in?
Bethel is in Anoka County, in the north-central part of the county near the Isanti County line. St. Francis borders it on the west, north and south, and East Bethel is to the east. Anoka County handles property taxes and records for Bethel homes.
How far is Bethel from Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Airport?
Driving from the center of Bethel at off-peak times, downtown Minneapolis is about 34 miles (roughly 50 minutes), downtown St. Paul is about 38 miles (roughly 50 minutes) and MSP Airport is about 45 miles (roughly 60 minutes). Rush-hour traffic adds time, and drives vary with which part of Bethel you start from.
What is there to do in Bethel, MN?
Bethel Days, held the third weekend in August, is the town’s big event, with a Friday movie in the park, a Saturday parade, a car and bike show and live music. Bethel City Park hosts National Night to Unite each August, and St. Francis and East Bethel nearby add parks, the Rum River and lakes.
Is Bethel a good place to buy a home?
Bethel suits buyers who want a very small town with St. Francis schools, quick access to Highway 65 and the shopping in neighboring St. Francis. Because few homes sell here each year, pricing takes care. I can help you compare Bethel homes with nearby sales and run the numbers on any home you’re considering.
NEARBY CITIES I SERVE
St. Francis · East Bethel · Oak Grove · Isanti · Ham Lake · Andover · Columbus
Thinking about buying or selling in Bethel? Use the form at the top of this page, or call or text me at 763-218-2573. — Chuck Glasser, Realtor®, RE/MAX Results